The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-23
MIKE.

NOBODY WOulu Iuke iltJle MINIS
Markham for u heroine, nor would on
suppose that little quiet figure pos
sessed nerve enough to save hundreds
OF lives by her prompt action, bu3
this was the way OF it: 1t was a hos
summer afternoon, and the mos9
absolute quite reigned over the littls
railroad station of Parkerstown, up
in northern New England. on thesa
sweltering July days. Not even the
customary loafers were around, anG
only at train.timo was there any show
OF life.
The down.train was due at $40,
but until then, as the sensational
writer's say, call was quiet as the
grave"
Mike was the station agents daugii
ter and only child. She was fifteen.
although so small she looked threo
years younger, and WIS usually quiet
us n mouse--"not much zip to her."
as Che country folks said. In spite OF
the current opinion, however, she had.
except the small portion OF time which
the little country town set apart for
the school season, spent nearly all her
time in the ticket Office with her IA
Their, picking up letter by letter and
word by word, the sounds ofthe Morse
instrument; and, finally, one day she
astonished her father by taking tel
egram by sound, giving him a neat
copy"
From that day Mike was installed
as telegraph operator, and the indul-
gent father said "Nixie could run that
Office Jest rs well as he could himself
which, considering that Mr. Mark
ham was considered by the boys "a
plug OPERATOR" might be called n
doubtful compliment to Mike.
Well, this particular afternoon we
are talking about, the aforesaid
plug" sauntered into the depot with
trouble enthroned on his majestic
brow.
"Nick, Pm summoned on q jury
case up in Centre Village this after
noon. It's too late to get anybody
here, even s'posing there was any
body to get. What are we going to
do about it? S'pose you can tend
the concern alone until | get back
probably by 62''
81 guess so, father" replied Mike.
There won't DO much OF anything to
do. Likely there won't be many pas
sengers for the down train this hot
day, and | hope know enough to sell
ticket or two ii there are"
"Well, see that those boxes go by
express. The waybills are ready and
in the drawer-guess you'll get along
all right"-and off he went leaving
Mike mistress OF the situation-which
phrase meant more than you might
imagine, that very particular day.
At first she felt her newly-acquired
Importance somewhat and stepped
briskly around, busting the musty
little Office and watering the few
plants in the window, but there being
absolutely nothing to do and no one
coming near, she dropped into in
actively and listened to the click OF
the telegraph instrument, which to
her was as companionable as the talk
OF near frien Is would be- As the alter
noon passed drowsily along the heat
and stiffness overcame her, and drop
ping her fiaxen head on the desk be-
fore her, she was soon-as one OF the
good ladies of Parkerstown was
wont to express tin the arms OF
Morphine"
Afterwards, the first '''"r she
could remember aboui roice
seeming to come from . ans
said: "Taint likely she Is ieit alone.
and asleep, too"
no" responded another evil voice,
1.-THE old mans probably round some
where-but," in a lower tone, "come
on, let's 20 long. The down train III
be along and well just lay 'em out"
Mike was wide awake enough now,
but she had presence OF mind in
her small body, and realized that
safety lay in keeping still.
How fur is it up there?"
"Shl Keep mum. Do You want to
knock he hull thing in the head, and
yourself tooi" And then the girls
auickened hearing caught the heavy
footsteps passing by the window and
on up the track.
Mike waited until she couldn't
hear the footsteps and then cannous-